A cat who was found paralysed with bruised lungs and an injured eye is recovering at RSPCA Millbrook Animal Centre in Chobham.

The black and white moggy, renamed Hope by RSPCA staff, was found in Goldsworth Park in Woking and taken to the centre by a kind passer-by who thought she was dead.

Young Hop, was thrown around by dogs and found in a garden with a head injury, matted fur, covered in fleas and soaking wet after spending a night in the rain.

Vets discovered Hope was alive, but had suffered bruised lungs, an injured eye and was paralysed from her shoulders down.

The feline was cared for day and night at Pet Doctors in Woking but there was little sign of change to her condition until she had a pain response in her right leg.

She had a setback when the abscesses on her back legs burst, but has since made good progress and is able to get around her pen.

Liz Wood, deputy animal centre manager at the RSPCA centre, said: “A lady had found her being tossed around the garden by her two dogs.

"She had matts and was covered in fleas, although still so young.

"The vets found injuries indicating a head trauma of some kind, she had been outside all night and she was soaked to the skin.

“Staff at the vets stabilised her and nursed her day and night. She showed little signs of change but finally she had a pain response returning in her right leg – a small sign of improvement but a glimmer of hope.

“We were so worried about Hope because of her condition, but it seems that a miracle happened when she just began to recover so quickly.

“She had good meals of gourmet food that had been donated for Christmas by supporters and lots of fuss and cuddles and is making progress every day.

“She is now walking well on one back leg although we still don’t know if the other leg will need to be amputated.”

Hope’s owners have come forward and signed her over to Millbrook Animal Centre because they have a dog at home and cannot take her back.

She is still at the centre but will be cared for at home by a volunteer fosterer until she is strong enough for rehoming.